How do you describe the indescribable? To be able to attend the Athens Olympics was magic. To watch the US 3-Day Event Equestrian team come together as a cohesive unit and produce five very good rounds in all three phases of the competition was remarkable. Their support of each other was obvious, as they watched and applauded their teammates whenever they could. Their Bronze Medal was earned…fair and square. Were they perfect? Of course not! Amy kicks herself for Pogi’s brief inattention that caused a lowering of points in his Dressage score. Kim had rails down in both the team and individual Show Jumping rounds. Darren and John both had rails down in the team Show Jumping that knocked them down several places and deprived John of the opportunity to have his score count for the team medal competition. But at the end, they all felt that their horses had done the very best they could and all were pleased that they were awarded the medals they deserved. And Amy, our very own star from the Pacific Northwest, was THRILLED with Pogi in every way. She was quoted as saying that for her, the Olympics were “…the thrill of a lifetime. I feel so honored to have been chosen to represent the US. Pogi gave me the ride of my life. He just couldn’t have tried any harder. I am just so lucky to have him trust me so.”
THE MARKOPOULO EQUESTRIAN VENUE
The Equestrian site was a brand new development consisting of three stadiums on one side of the access road: one for dressage, a separate one for show jumping and a third to be used as a new race track stadium for Athens. The dressage stadium was the smallest of the three, with a seating capacity of approximately 9,000. The cross-country course was prepared as if it was to be a golf course, with lush grass, perfectly mown, with soft, well-watered footing and beautifully constructed jumps and flowers everywhere. Each jump on the cross-country course was linked to a Greek legend, and each featured a sign that described its relationship to ancient beliefs.
DRESSAGE
Amy’s selection to ride first for the team was an honor, as she was expected to ride the Cross-Country course clean, with no jump penalties, thus “getting around” to come back and tell the later riders how things went at each given fence. Usually the rider in this position sacrifices a chance at an individual medal. An added bonus for Amy was the presence of her long-time coach and mentor, Ruth Moore, of Whidbey Island. Her advice and counsel have long given Amy the confidence and skills she has needed to rise to the top of her sport. It was a thrill for Ruth to watch her pupil join the icons of the sport and be competitive with them.
CROSS-COUNTRY
Amy’s Cross-Country round was picture-perfect. She was right on schedule until the last few fences, which were all on a down-hill track, and so, she had to rein Pogi back a bit to get his attention at those last fences. (See www.athens2004.com for a complete list of scores in all phases of the 3-Day Event.)
SHOW JUMPING
What a Show Jumping contest! The spectators went wild when Amy piloted Pogi around the course to become the first of only ten riders to have a clean round in the team competition. This earned her place among the top three scores on the US team, so she jumped in the individual medals contest later that same night. Under bright lights, a shortened course presented insurmountable obstacles to all but two riders in the top 25: Amy and the eventual individual gold medal winner were the only two riders to have a second clean jumping round, and with that brilliant ride, she moved up to 6th place individually.
The story of the German team and their individual rider, Bettina Hoy, who incurred time penalties on the Show Jumping course, has been well documented in the press. The original placements had the US in the Bronze Medal position, but the Germans successfully protested the initial awarding of time penalties to Bettina, and this gave the US team 4th place. After consideration by the highest sport authority, the German time penalties were upheld, and Amy was notified of her Bronze Medal as she arrived in London. When Amy received the news, she commented, “Pogi deserves his medal. I am proud to have been able to represent my country and proud of my horse and glad that the medal we earned was awarded to us. I feel bad for Bettina, but she made a silly mistake, which is something we all can do at any time. This was our time to take a medal.” Anyone who watched Amy’s reaction to her first clean Show Jumping round knows how proud she was of Pogi. Her smile was contagious as she exited the competition ring and was greeted by ecstatic coaches and well-wishers. Quite a feat for the full-time firefighter and part-time equestrian and her “little mountain pony” Poggio II from Duvall, Washington.
Way to go, Amy and Pogi!
